Democracy for Vancouver

Campaign Finance Overhaul Would Rein in Major Donors

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and City Council leaders have agreed on a major overhaul of the city’s campaign finance laws intended to enhance the power of small donors and reduce the influence of those who do business with the city, including real estate developers.

The wide-ranging legislation, which appears all but certain to pass the Council, would sharply cap contributions from lobbyists, developers and municipal bond underwriters, as well as most of those with city contracts of $100,000 or more.

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Under the current system, for every $1 a donor gives, $4 in public funds are provided, up to the first $250 of a contribution. The new bill would increase the public contribution to $6 for every $1, but only up to the first $175. The result is that a $250 contribution that would have generated $1,000 in matching funds would now generate $50 more.

“This will increase the value and importance of smaller gifts and encourage candidates to raise more grass-roots money from a greater number of supporters,” said Dick Dadey, executive director of the Citizens Union, one of at least three government watchdog groups that helped shape the bill.

While Washington State spins its wheels in trying to determine if judicial races should be subject to campaign contribution limits, New York City forges ahead, joining Arizona and Maine in public financing of campaigns.

Of course, Bloomberg is so personally wealthy, that perhaps this move can be construed as an incumbency protection clause. My less cynical side though is willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. It’s difficult to purchase favors from a billionaire pol with $175. This overhaul clearly puts the onus on the campaigns to get broad-based numbers of contributors, which can only be applauded.